I am a home baker in North Carolina. The HD will license me to run a business out of my home, but one of the stipulations is that you cannot have any animals in the house....ever. We have a dog, a Shitzu that my husband is very attached to and would never agree to get rid of (I wouldn't mind, lol). I want to be legal and this is the only sticking point. What have some of you done in this situation? My mom told me to hide the dog when I have the inspection, but I don't think that is a good idea. I really don't want to rent out a space, when my home is perfectly fine (and free).

Not good advise from your mother. It wouldn't be wise to lie about having a dog . You could be fined or even loose your license should if someone found out. I think you know what you have to do. Either don't do cakes in your home or give the dog away. I don't think that kind of dog is suited for outdoors, right? Can you imagine hidding the dog in the bedroom when the health inspector showed up and the dog refusing to shut up barking? That'd be my luck

Good luck to you in this situation. Maybe your husband will be understanding of your desire to have your business. What about your mom taking the dog?

Sounds like you have three options.

1. Find a new home for the dog.
2. Move the dog outside.
3. Wait.

are the NC regs listed somewhere online?

Ugh, stupid dog.

What's more important to you - your husband or the dog?

Hiding the dog is a horrible idea. If you hide him in the house while the inspection is going on karma will probably come back to bite you and it will either bark or there will be some trace of the dog you inadvertantly forgot that the inspector will discover while he is there. Plus if you are trying to be legal and go about things the right way - well, you're already lying right off the bat about having a pet.

If you hide the dog at someone else's house or a kennel there is still the possibility of the inspector finding out. Houses with animals in them have a certain smell to them (they do - even if you clean up after your pet and clean your house. There is still a certain odor in the air.) The inspector is going to notice.
Plus, what happens if someone comes for a delivery and there is a dog (or signs of a dog) in what is supposed to be a pet free home? Or even if you do all deliveries but when someone calls to place an order they hear a dog barking in the background?

Sorry but if your DH is not willing to give up the pet then it sounds like you are going to have to wait.

I am going to talk to my husband about the dog tonight. I wasn't planning on hiding the dog, that was my mom's idea, and I didn't think it was a good one. I am going to see if my husband would be ok with letting my parents keeping the dog for a while to see if my business takes off. I know he wants me to do my business on the down low until we see if it takes off, but I can't do any advertising in the community for fear I will get into trouble. So that isn't a good barometer for success.

You can have outdoor pets, you have an option to move dog outside.

have your DH build the doggie love of his life a nice dog house, literally like a shed that could house a bed and could even have heat and a/c in it! As long as the dog is getting love and attention it probably won't care either way..........sometimes I wish I could live in a shed out back! lol

I'm in the same situation. Although my state won't allow me to bake from home. If they ever did, we have a cat that my husband loves dearly. We couldn't give her up.

Yeah, I think a new home for the dog would be better. The new sheds they have look like small houses and I think the dog won't mind one bit being there. Hopefully your DH will feel the same.
Good luck

How sad.

I don't know about anyone else but I feel bad for the dog

Am I being too sensitive? I have a dog and I could not imagine "finding a new home" for him. He is part of my family.

Instead of stupid dog - stupid rule. I don't blame the state for saying "no dog in the kitchen" but no dog in the house??!!

I hope you find a solution that works out!

A dog can be in the opposite side of the house but people can bring the hair into every room.

When we used to have indoor dogs years ago, the fur got everywhere...

I agree with Dizzymaiden; I don't think I could give up my pets for a cake business. They are part of the family. Of course, I can't have a home cake business at all so the point is moot, anyway.

I guess I am the lonely voice of...... a dog belongs outside!

Yes we have pets - but they don't share my home - they have their own quarters! Don't share my bed, my lounge and especially NOT my kitchen.

Dogs are perfectly happy outside - they belong outside!

Oh..... and I especially can't tolerate people who DRESS up their dogs!!

PURRRLLLEASE!!!!

She is definitely an inside dog. She is a Shitzu and a lap dog. I do agree that she is part of the family, but I have been out of work for over a year. I lost my job when I was pregnant with my son and had complications and couldn't work, ran out of FMLA yada, yada, yada. I need to make some kind of income, and I would LOVE to stay home with my little boy. Owning my own cake business is my dream. I love our dog (even though she gets on my nerves sometimes), but I love my son more. I love my dream of owning my own business more, I need to help provide for my family. I know a lot of people won't see it my way, but I hope my hubby will.

Please I am looking for a recipe of a "wedding cake" it is delicious, the one that has raisins, nuts, rum, is a bit dark the inside. PLease if someone has the recipe , please reply.

I feel you saffire77......I love my dog too, but I had to adjust him to being outside. He's been outhere for the last 4 months.
GisellaM: if you need recipes you should do a search under the recipes tab. They have all kinds of great flavors on here.

Dogs def. dont belong on furniture or in the kitchen. If your visitors leave with dog hair all over them, there is def dog hair in your kitchen. I think the rule is unfair, dogs are a part of mini families and to have to get rid of your dog is terrible. I say move him outside or to your garage (if you have one), and allow him inside sometimes when you are not baking. However if your dog is on furniture sofa, chair bed ect, I would not bake cakes to give away or sell. Chance of dog hair in the food is too risky. JMO.

I have to laugh - I am looking at my 5 pound, short hair, Chihuahua and telling him he must live outside now. I don't dress him up but in the cold weather, he wears a protective sweater...lololol

Oh GAWD-I am the crazy dog lady!

My dog does not go in the kitchen (the floors are too cold

On a serious note: I bake for others the way I want to purchase baked goods without the fear or gross factor of animals being in the kicthen. So I have had to resort to sharing a community church kitchen.

Shitzu's are not meant to be outside dogs.

1. they are tiny and they have heavy long coats.
2. they were bred for royalty in China so all they do is be in your lap and love you.
3. If your dog has been an indoor dog for a while (years) it will be almost impossible to get the dog to stay outside.
4. They need to be with people. After having your dog live inside and then shun him to the mercy of heat and cold outdoors is a cruelty, yes even if you have a shed or doghouse for it.

I'm sorry I know how importnat this issue is but I also know how we treat animals. You make a commitment to care for life for this animal you should stick it out. Unless for some big health rason you are unable. Getting rid of your dog just because you want to start a cake buisness from home should not be an option.

Maybe look into expanding your home and building a seperate kitchen? But don't make the dog pay for consequences he doesn't understand caking or rules that apply to caking.

Well, my human family comes first before my dog, and if I have to get rid of her in order to make sure my family has food on the table and a roof over their head, and my son doesn't have to be in day care then that's what I'm gonna do. Why would I put my child somewhere I don't want him to be so that I can put my DOGS needs over his? That thinking is crazy to me. I did make a commitment to care for her, and I will, even if that means finding her another place to stay for a little while. I think I will talk to my parents and see if they can keep her for about 6 months and give my business a go. If I am doing well then I can put money into transforming the big shed out back into a kitchen, or renting a space. If I'm not then I can just get a 9-5 job. I have to try though. If not I will resent Angel (the dog) and that's not good for her either.